Feature for rearview assembly holding additional hmi

Abstract

A mirror assembly for a vehicle that includes a mirror housing and a mounting member configured to attach the mirror housing to the vehicle. An optical stack includes an electro-optic assembly that is located in the mirror housing. The electro-optic assembly includes a substantially transmissive front substrate. The front substrate defines a first surface and a second surface. The electro-optic assembly further includes a rear substrate that defines a third surface and a fourth surface. An electro-optic medium is disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A mirror display is located in the mirror housing. A user interface module is connected to at least one of the mounting member and an exterior of the mirror housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:
 a mirror housing;   a mounting member configured to attach the mirror housing to the vehicle;   an optical stack in the mirror housing including a mirror viewing surface and an electro-optic assembly, the electro-optic assembly including:
 a substantially transmissive front substrate, the front substrate defining a first surface and a second surface; 
 a rear substrate defining a third surface and a fourth surface; and 
 an electro-optic medium disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate; 
   a mirror display located in the mirror housing; and   a user interface module connected to at least one of the mounting member and an exterior of the mirror housing.   
     
     
         2 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , including a mirror control system located in the mirror housing and the user interface module is configured to be electrically coupled to the mirror control system and transmit a signal to the mirror control system to effectuate at least one of changing a state of the electro-optic assembly or generating a graphic on the mirror display. 
     
     
         3 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface module is configured to be in communication with a vehicle control system and transmit a signal to the vehicle control system to effectuate at least one of turning on lights in an interior cabin of the vehicle, sending and receiving communications, opening and closing a sunroof, articulating a roller blind of the sunroof, dimming the sunroof, and opening and closing a garage door. 
     
     
         4 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface module includes a module viewing surface with a plurality of inputs. 
     
     
         5 . The mirror assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the user interface module includes a module display configured to generate a warning. 
     
     
         6 . The mirror assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the generated warning includes at least one of an airbag notification or an interior light status. 
     
     
         7 . The mirror assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface module includes a connection bracket that is configured to be selectively connected to at least one of the mounting member and the exterior of the mirror housing. 
     
     
         8 . The mirror assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface module includes a module housing that is integral with the mirror housing. 
     
     
         9 . The mirror assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface module extends from a lower surface of the mirror housing. 
     
     
         10 . The mirror assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface module extends from an upper surface of the mirror housing. 
     
     
         11 . The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface module includes a module viewing surface oriented substantially along a first plane and the mirror viewing surface is oriented substantially along a second plane, wherein a line perpendicular to the first plane and a line perpendicular to the second plane intersect at a location of a vehicle occupant. 
     
     
         12 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:
 a mirror housing defining at least one opening;   a mirror viewing surface coupled to the mirror housing;   a mounting member configured to attach the mirror housing to the vehicle; and   at least one user interface module coupled to the mirror housing and moveable between a stowed position within the at least one opening and an active position at least partially outside of the at least one opening, the at least one user interface module comprising:
 at least one user input configured to be in communication with at least one of a mirror control system or a vehicle control system; and 
 a module viewing surface configured to visualize a blind spot by at least one of generating images of the blind spot on a display or reflecting the blind spot from a reflective surface. 
   
     
     
         13 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the module viewing surface is configured to visualize the blind spot by reflecting the blind spot from the reflective surface. 
     
     
         14 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the mirror housing includes a pair of opposing sides surfaces and the at least one opening includes a pair of openings each located in a different one of the opposing side surfaces, and wherein the at least one user interface module includes a pair of user interface modules located and moveable within a different one of the pair of openings. 
     
     
         15 . The mirror assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each user interface module are configured to visualize blind spots on opposite sides of the vehicle by reflecting the blind spots from the reflective surface. 
     
     
         16 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one user input is configured to be in communication with the vehicle control system and transmit a signal to the vehicle control system to effectuate at least one of turning on lights in an interior cabin of the vehicle, sending and receiving communications, opening and closing a sunroof, articulating a roller blind of the sunroof, dimming the sunroof, and opening and closing a garage door. 
     
     
         17 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is located in a bottom surface of the mirror housing and the at least one user interface module is pivotally connected proximate the at least one opening between the stowed position the active position. 
     
     
         18 . The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is located in a bottom surface of the mirror housing and the at least one user interface module is slidably connected within the at least one opening between the stowed position the active position. 
     
     
         19 . A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:
 a mirror housing;   a mirror viewing surface coupled to the mirror housing;   a mounting member configured to attach the mirror housing to the vehicle; and   a user interface module coupled to the mirror housing, the user interface module comprising:
 a module viewing surface including at least one user input configured to be in communication with an external system to the vehicle; and 
 the at least one user input configured to generate a signal to effectuate at least one of controlling a garage door, a components of a smart home, or mobile device mirroring on a display of the module viewing surface. 
   
     
     
         20 . The mirror assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the module viewing surface is located on a first plane and the mirror viewing surface is located on a second plane, and the first plane is adjustable relative to the second plane.